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Two Harrison High School boys killed in crash on county road east of Lafayette

Two people died and a third was critically injured Wednesday morning, Feb. 26, 2020, after a driver lost control of his car on Tippecanoe County Road 100 North east of County Road 675 East.(Photo: Ron WIlkins/Journal & Courier)

Update at 10 a.m. Thursday: Tippecanoe County Coroner Donna Avolt said at 10 a.m. Thursday that the autopsies of the victims will be finished in the afternoon.

LAFAYETTE — Two boys died and a third was critically injured after a one-car accident on a snowy Wednesday morning on Tippecanoe County Road 100 North, according to the Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office.

The three of the boys involved in the crash were under 18 and were students at Harrison High School, Tippecanoe County Coroner Donna Avolt said Wednesday afternoon.

Autopsies on the two boys who died are scheduled for Thursday, Avolt said.

The driver lost control and struck a tree, police said

The driver of the black Nissan Altima was speeding eastbound on Tippecanoe County Road 100 North, and he lost control of the car as it crested the hill near Tippecanoe County Road 675 East, according to the Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office.

The car drove off the left side of the road about 8:15 a.m. Wednesday and ran into a tree, according to the sheriff's office investigation.

The force of impact with a tree on Tippecanoe County Road 100 N about 8:15 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020, split this car into three pieces. The crash killed two Harrison High School boys and critically injured a third.(Photo: Ron WIlkins/Journal & Courier)

It appeared part of the car remained leaning against the tree, and two other sections of the fractured car were east of the tree.

Two of the boys were found inside the car's wreckage and were dead when deputies arrived, according to the sheriff's office.

The third boy was found outside of the car and was rushed to IU Health Arnett for treatment. At the scene Wednesday morning, Tippecanoe County sheriff's Capt. Rob Hainje said the boy who survived the crash was in critical condition.

A third teen is in stable condition

By mid-afternoon Wednesday, the teen who survived was in stable condition and being transported to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis for more treatment, Tippecanoe County sheriff's Lt. Brian Lowe said.

The names of the boys killed will be released Thursday after Avolt confirms their identities, according to the sheriff's office.

The crash reconstruction closed County Road 100 North from 8:15 a.m. until about 12:30 p.m.

Initial findings indicate the road was wet but not snow-covered or icy, according to the news release.

'We are heartbroken and saddened'

Harrison High School Principal Cory Marshall said, "We are heartbroken and saddened to hear about the crash that involved three Harrison students.

"On behalf of the school, we send our deepest condolences to the families involved," Marshall said.

"TSC has deployed additional counselors to the schools impacted to help meet the emotional needs of our staff and students," he said. "We ask that the community keep the families, staff and students in its thoughts and prayers."

Reach Ron Wilkins at 765-420-5231 or at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.